Tool having a head and a handle

ABSTRACT

A tool head has two spaced opposite sides and a stepped opening including a smaller-diameter first portion of non-circular crosssection which converges from one toward the other side, and a larger-diameter portion extending from the other side to and in alignment with the first portion. An end portion of a handle is received matingly in the first portion and an end face of it faces the section portion. A threaded pin is anchored in the end portion of the handle and has a part projecting into the second portion of the opening, with an elastic tubular bushing matingly received in this second portion and with clearance surrounding this part of the pin. Threaded retaining means meshes with said part in the clearance and bears against the bushing at the other side thereof.

United States Patent Soto et al.

l l TOOL HAVING A HEAD AND A HANDLE [72] Inventors: Eduardo Rodriguez Soto; Joaquin Longo, both of Calle 3, No. 269 Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 82,317

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 28, 1970 Argentina ..228.374

[52] US. Cl. ..l45/29 B, 306/32 [51] Int. Cl ..B25g 3/12 [58] Field of Search ..'.l45/29 R, 29 B, 29 F, 29 D, 145/2 R, 3; 306/32, 20; 287/85 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 846,503 3/1907 Palmer ..306/20 2,067,751 l/l937 Beegle ..306/20 2,088,798 8/1937 Leighton ..287/85 R 1 Dec. 5, 1972 3,211,198 l0/I965 Glasgow ..l45/29 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 692,616 8/1964 Canada 145/29 Primary Examiner--Theron E. Condon AtI0rneyMichael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A tool head has two spaced opposite sides and a stepped opening including a smaller-diameter first portion of non-circular cross-section which converges from one toward the other side, and a largerdiameter portion extending from the other side to and in alignment with the first portion. An end portion of a handle is received matingly in the first portion and an end face of it faces the section portion. A threaded pin is anchored in the end portion of the handle and has a part projecting into the second portion of the opening,

with an elastic tubular bushing matingly received in this second portion and with clearance surrounding this part of the pin. Threaded retaining means meshes with said part in the clearance and bears against the bushing at the other side thereof.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to tools, and more particularly to tools having a head and a handle. Still more specifically the invention relates to a connection for a tool handle with its associated tool handle.

Various different types and ways of connecting a head and a handle of a tool with one another have become known. They are perform their intended function with some degree of reliability. Some of them are better than others and some of them will lastlonger than others. None of them, however, are universally usable with equal satisfaction and reliability under all circumstances.

It is therefore the purpose of the present invention to provide an improvement in this field which is universally unable for tools of the type under discussion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved connection between the head and the handle ofa tool.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved connection with is not possessed of the disadvantages known from the art.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a tool having a head and a handle and comprising, briefly stated, a head having two spaced opposite sides and a stepped opening in the head and including a smaller-diameter first portion of non-circular cross-section convergingin direction from one to the other of said sides, and alarger-diameter portion extending from the other of said sides to and being aligned with said first portion. A handle has a first portion received in and mating with said first portion, and an end face facing the second portion. Threaded elongated first means is anchored in the end portion and projects in part beyond the end face into the second portion and an elastic tubular bushing is matingly received in the second portion and surrounds the part of the first means with clearance. Threaded retaining means meshes with this part in the clearance and bears against the bushing at the other side of the head.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing a head of a tool embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side elevation illustrating a handle and a head of our novel tool connected in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view of a component of FIG. 4, on a larger scale and partly in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail it will be seen that we have firstly shown in FIGS. 1-3 a head of our novel tool. This head is identified with reference character A and is here illustrated the head of a hammer, but it should be understood that it could be an axe head, or any other head of a tool utilizing a head and a handle which are connected with one another.

According to the invention the head A is provided with a stepped opening extending from one to the other of its sides. The opening has a portion 1 which extends inwardly from one side in direction towards the other side, and an opening portion 2 which extends from the other side inwardly to meet with and communicate with the inner end of the opening portion l. It will be seen that the opening portion 1 in the illustrated embodiment is of oval cross-section (compare FIG. 3)- although it could also be of another non-circular crosssection to prevent rotation of the handle 3 with reference to the head A-ahd that it converges in direction towards the opening portion 2. The latter is illustrated as being in this embodiment of circular crosssection but also could be of a different cross-section, and it has a diameter (compare FIGS.'l-3) which is somewhat larger than the major dimension of the opening portion 1 at itsiriner end where it communicates with the opening portion 2. This is in order to provide a shoulder (compare FIGS. 1 and 2) at the juncture intermediate between the portions 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows the handle 3 an end portion of which is of tapering configuration so as to be matingly received in the opening portion 1 as illustrated. An elongated threaded element 4 is embedded in the end portion of the handle 3, and may for instance be in form of an exteriorly threaded cylindrical pin as shown. A portion of this pin projects beyond the end face of the end portion of the handle 3 into the opening portion 2, again as illustrated in FIG. 4..The pin 4 may be embedded an anchored in the handle 3 in suitable manner, including but not limited to the manner shown in FIG. 1 where the end portion of the handle 3 is provided with a tapped bore into which the pin 4 is threaded.

That portion of the pin 4 which projects into the opening portion 2 is concentrically surrounded by a tubular bushing 5 having elastically compressible properties, for instance consisting of such elastomeric material as rubber or synthetic plastic. The outside diameter of the bushing 5 is just slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the portion 2, but its inside diameter is substantially larger than the outside diameter of that portion of the pin 4 which projects into the opening portion 2. Thus, the bushing 5 surrounds the pin 4 with clearance within the confines of the opening portion 2 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

A threaded retaining member 6 is provided, having a cylindrical portion provided with a tapped blind bore 60 (see FIG. 5). The member 6 is threaded onto that part of the pin 4 which extends into the bushing 5, so as to fill the clearance between the inner wall of the bushing 5 and the pin 4 as shown in FIG. 4. Of course the screws of the latter and of the blind bore 60 mesh when this is done. Further, the member 6 has a head projecting laterally beyond the outlines of the cylindrical portion 6a and identified in FIGS. 4 and 5 with vreference numeral 6b. This head bears against the bushing 5 at the other side of the head A, that is at the side remote from the handle 3. In the illustrated embodiment the bushing 5 is provided at this side just mentioned with a recess into which the head 6b can partly or completely enter, but the recess could also be omitted. It should be noted that the overall diameter of the head 6b must under no circumstances equal or exceed the diameter of the opening portion 2 because according to the invention it is intended for the member 6 to be threaded onto the pin 4 to such an extent that it compresses the bushing 5 within the hole 2. This establishes an axial pull of the handle 3, drawing the same reliably into the opening portion 1 wherein it is prevented from turning because of the non-circular cross-section of its end portion and of the opening portion 1. At the same time it results in radial expansion of the material of the bushing 5. which thus engages the circumferential wall of the opening portion 2 more tightly.

it will be appreciated that the bushing 5 thus performsa dual function, namely acting as a spring which maintains constant pressure or pull on the handle 3 so that a loosening of the handle due to loosening of the member 6 is 'reliablypre vented. At the same time, however, the bushing 6' acts as a vibration-damping means because, being a non-rigid element, it absorbs a large part of the vibrations which are produced, when the head A strikes an object. This limits the transmission of such vibrations and shocks to the hands and arms of a user and thus makes a tool according to the present inyention more pleasant and less tiring to handle.

The handle 3 could of course consist of various different materials, and among these we mention only wood or a synthetic plastic of suitable characteristics, though it will be evident that other materials can also be used.

it is pointed out that the precise illustrated embodiment is an exemplary embodiment only and that modifications such as have been briefly suggested above, will readily offer themselves to those skilled in the art and are thus intended to be encompassed within the scope and context of the present invention. This includes, for instance, different cross-sectional configurations for the opening portions 1 and 2, different locations for them and the like.

it will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a tool having a head and a handle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of th followin claims.

What is claimed as new an desired 0 be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A tool comprising a head having two spaced opposite sides and a stepped opening in said head defining a surface intermediate to said opposite sides, said stepped opening including a first frusto-conical portion converging from one of said opposite sides to said intermediate surface, and a substantially cylindrical portion between the other of said opposite sides and said intermediate surface, said two portions being in axial alignment, the diameter of said cylindrical portion being greater than the dimensions of said frusto-conical portion at said intermediate surface to thereby provide a shoulder at said intermediate surface in said second portion; a handle having an end portion received in and mating'with said first portion, andan end face facing said second portion; a short threaded screw anchored in said end portion and projecting in part beyond said end face into said second portion; and elastic tubular bushing matingly received in said second portion and surrounding said part of said screw with clearance; and threaded retaining means meshing with said part in said clearance and bearing against said bushing to at least partially compress the latter and to force said handle end portion into said first portion, whereby a strong connection is formed between said head and said handle.

2. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said first portion is of substantially oval cross-section.

3. A tool as defined in claim 1, said bushing consisting at least predominantly of elastomeric material.

4. A tool as defined in claim 1, said retaining means comprising a cylindrical portion having a tapped channel and surrounding said part in meshing engagement therewith, and a head portion of greater diameter than said cylindrical portion and bearing upon said bushing at said other side.

5. A tool as defined in claim 4, wherein said screw is an externally threaded cylindrical pin.

6. A tool as defined in claim 5, said end portion having a tapped bore extending inwardly from said endface and registeringvwith said second portion of said opening; and said pin being threaded over at least substantially its entire length and partially in mesh with the threads of said bore.

7. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle consists at least predominantly of wood.

8. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle consists at least predominantly of synthetic plastic material. 

1. A tool comprising a head having two spaced opposite sides and a stepped opening in said head defining a surface intermediate to said opposite sides, said stepped opening including a first frusto-conical portion converging from one of said opposite sides to said intermediate surface, and a substantially cylindrical portion between the other of said opposite sides and said intermediate surface, said two portions being in axial alignment, the diameter of said cylindrical portion being greater than the dimensions of said frusto-conical portion at said intermediate surface to thereby provide a shoulder at said intermediate surface in said second portion; a handle having an end portion received in and mating with said first portion, and an end face facing said second portion; a short threaded screw anchored in said end portion and projecting in part beyond said end face into said second portion; and elastic tubular bushing matingly received in said second portion and surrounding said part of said screw with clearance; and threaded retaining means meshing with said part in said clearance and bearing against said bushing to at least partially compress the latter and to force said handle end portion into said first portion, whereby a strong connection is formed between said head and said handle.
 2. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said first portion is of substantially oval cross-section.
 3. A tool as defined in claim 1, said bushing consisting at least predominantly of elastomeric material.
 4. A tool as defined in claim 1, said retaining means comprising a cylindrical portion having a tapped channel and surrounding said part in meshing engagement therewith, and a head portion of greater diameter than said cylindrical portion and bearing upon said bushing at said other side.
 5. A tool as defined in claim 4, wherein said screw is an externally threaded cylindrical pin.
 6. A tool as defined in claim 5, said end portion having a tapped bore extending inwardly from said endface and registering with said second portion of said opening; and said pin being threaded over at least substantially its entire length and partially in mesh with the threads of said bore.
 7. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle consists at least predominantly of wood.
 8. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle consists at least predominantly of synthetic plastic material. 